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Why is Black Friday black? The NATO alphabet. Byeloveyou.
Nov 21, 2023
Explore the origins of idiomatic expressions like 'black sheep' and 'black market'. Discover the evolution of 'black market', 'blacksmiths', and 'pitch black'. Uncover the usefulness of the NATO phonetic alphabet and learn about bizarre alphabetical associations. Share listener stories and shout-outs.
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Quick takeaways
- Black Friday originated as a term used by students in the 17th century to describe any Friday with exams, and later gained significance in 1869 when the gold market crashed, causing panic and financial distress.
- 'Black sheep' and 'black swan' highlight the notions of rarity and going against expectations, with the former originating from the presence of a literal black sheep among a flock of white sheep and the latter from the discovery of black swans in Australia in the 1600s.
Deep dives
The Origins and Evolution of Black Friday
Black Friday, known for its exciting shopping deals, originated as a term used by students in the 17th century to describe any Friday with exams. It later gained significance in 1869 when the gold market crashed, causing panic and financial distress. The day after Thanksgiving started being called Black Friday when factory workers would call in sick to extend their holiday weekend, causing stress at work. In the 1960s, Philadelphia saw an influx of shoppers, giving rise to the association of Black Friday with shopping. Today, Black Friday has become synonymous with great sales and marks the start of end-of-year profitability for retailers.
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